HOT | NOT

Gareth Bale scored his 10th goal in eight games in Tottenham's 2--1 win over North London rival Arsenal. Third-place Spurs are primed to finish above the Gunners for the first time since 1995, but will transfer target Bale be around for a Champions League run in '13--14?

NOT: TIMBERRRRR!

Minnesota (20--36) has lost 21 of 25, more or less axing any playoff hopes. The Wolves are shooting an NBA-worst 29.8% on threes, and PF Kevin Love is still out with a broken hand. Speaking of no love: Tickets for Sunday's home game against Dallas were going for a penny on StubHub.

March 11, 2013

NOT 30 MINUTES AFTER HE WALKED OFF THE COURSE MID-ROUND AT THE HONDA, RORY MCILROY KNEW HE HAD MADE A COLOSSAL MISTAKE. NOW, UNDER INTENSE SCRUTINY, THE WORLD'S TOP-RANKED PLAYER IS TRYING TO REDISCOVER A SWING HE ADMITS HAS DESERTED HIM

OVERREACHING OVERLORDS BUILDING (AND BUYING) EMPIRES ON THE BACKS OF THE YOUNG AND THE STRONG. SHIFTING ALLEGIANCES AND SHIFTY DEALS. AND DRAGONS! (WELL, NO.) THE STRUGGLE FOR INFLUENCE ATOP THE GAMES WE LOVE CAN SEEM LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A FANTASY EPIC

SI RANKED (THEN SHUFFLED, STARTED OVER AND RERANKED) THE 50 MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE IN SPORTS. DON'T LIKE OUR LIST? TRY US AGAIN IN A YEAR WHEN, INEVITABLY, TODAY'S LEADERS WILL BE UNDERPERFORMING OR UNDER ASSAULT. FOR NOW, YOUR LEADER ...

ATTENDEES AT THE ARNOLD SPORTS FESTIVAL MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BANISH A 300-POUND OFFENSIVE TACKLE, BUT PLENTY OF THEM COULD BENCH-PRESS ONE. AT THE CITADEL OF STRENGTH, ACOLYTES WORSHIP—AND VENDORS PEDDLE—POWER IN ITS PUREST FORM

Gonzaga demolished Portland 81--52 last Saturday to finish the season 29--2 and ranked No. 1 in the nation for the first time in school history. Led by junior forward Kelly Olynyk (17.7 ppg), the Bulldogs had the nation's third-best shooting percentage (50.5).

NOT: UGGLA, #UGH

Coming off the worst season in his seven-year career (.220/.348/.384), Atlanta's Dan Uggla is struggling once again. It's just spring training, but through eight games the three-time All-Star was hitting .143 with 11 strikeouts. Said Uggla last week, "There's always an adjustment period."

HOT: CAN-DO CANADIENS

David Desharnais (above) scored two goals in Montreal's 4--3 thriller at Boston on Sunday, giving the Habs (14-4-4 and first in the East) their eighth win in 11 games. Afterward coach Michel Therrien said, "Everyone knows if we stick to our plan, we've got a chance to win every game.